Method of and means for covering wire



July 27, 1937. R M, ROGERS 2,088,176

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR COVERING WIRE ATTORNEY July 27, 1937. P. M. ROGERS 2,088,176

METHOD OFAND MEANS FOR COVERING WIRE Filed Nov. e, 195e s sheets-sheet 2 ATTO RN EYS July 27, 1937.` P. ROGERS 2,088,176

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR COVERING WIRE Filed Nov. 6, 1936 s sheets-sheet 5 .2W/y? INVEINTOR BY v M AT1-o RN EYs Patented July 27, 1937 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR COVERING WIRE Paul M. Rogers, Hastings on Hudson, N. Y., as-

signor to Anaconda Wire & Cable Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1936, Serial No. 109,471

14 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to method and means for covering a core with a fiocculent, fluffy, or highly absorbent material. While not limited thereto, the invention is well suited for serving 5 a strip of fiocculent material to a single wire,

cable conductor or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide improved method and means for` transforming fibrous stock into flock and pneumatically coll lecting the flock and wrapping it in the form of a strip of .fiocculent material to a single wire cable. y A further object of the invention is to provide pneumatic means for directing flock to a rotating collector around which is trained one or more reinforcing strands which are effective as the strip of fiocculent material is being wound on the advancing cor-e, to cause rotation of the collector, such strands also serving to assist in stripping the fiocculent strip from the collector as Well as to reinforce the fiocculent material and assist in holding it in position on the covered product.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and the appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a side elevation of novel apparatus for practicing the improved method; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in vertical section showing the flock collector and related parts; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;` Fig. 4 is a view of a short length of a wire or core covered by my o novel method and apparatus; Fig. 5 is a detail view of a short'length of fiocculent serving strip adapted to be applied to the core or conductor, in accordance with the improved method and by theuse of the improved apparatus; Fig. 6 is a 40 detail perspective view of aportion of the planetary flock collector and one of the related parts coacting therewith, the view also illustrating a step in the method of directing the flock thereto and stripping it therefrom; Fig. .'7 is an enlarged 45 detail view of a portionpf a flock collector and a manifold for directing the flock thereto; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail taken approximately on line 8--8 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is la view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating a modified form of 'flock collector, such as used when the flock is applied to a textile net-like strip; Fig. 10 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a modification; Fig. 1l is a perspective View of a fiocculent serving strip, wherein the flock is intermeshed to some extent with a net-like textile backing strip;

Fig. .12\ is a fragmentary view showing a detail of construction of the flock collector of Figs.

9 and l0. l l

Referring in detail to the drawings, I0 represents a stock reel rotatably mounted in suitable brackets II. and carrying a supply I2 of the wire or other core to be covered. The wire or core I3 is ledover a guide sheave III and hence vertically upward through the hollow pneumatic head serving, indicated as a whole at I5. This mechanism is eective, in a manner to be hereinafter described, to disintegrate a supply or strip of rags, cotton sliver or the like, into the form of comminuted fibrous particles herein referred to as flock In accordance with the present method and by the use of the improved mechanism herein described, this flock is pneumatically directed to a rotatably mounted planetary flock collector drum. Trained around this .drum are one or more reinforcing threads or strands. This flock collector drum is indicated generally at. I6 in the drawings. As it moves in its planetary orbit around the advancing wire or core I3, there is formed thereon aflocculent serving strip I'I. As the strip Il is served or wrapped around the longitudinally advancing core or wire I3, a pull is exerted on reinforcing` strands I8, which are supplied by rotatably mounted cops I9. The pull exerted on the strands as a result of their being wound about the core is effective to rotate the collector drum about its supporting axis 20. The covered core or conductor Imakes one or more turns about a -capstan 2| driven by means hereinafter referred to, which is effective to advance the wire or core through the mechanism, I5. The covered product is then accumulated on a take-up reel 22 driven by suitable mechanism, such as commonly used in the art of covering wire, not shown.

From the description thus far, it is apparent that by my novel method fibre stock is disintegrated or transformed into flock and this flock A is pneumatically led to a collector, Which forms the flock into a fiocculent strip, which is applied simultaneously with theI thread-like strand of the reinforcement to the advancing core or conductor. The novel coacting instrumentalities for practicing the method will now be described in greater detail.

The raw fibre, which may be` in the nature of cotton sliver, fibrous material such as hemp, rag stock, or the like, is led from a rotatably mounted supply roll 23 to the flared mouth 24 of the chambered base 25. chambered base is rapidly driven, for example,

A picker Wheel 26 within the by motor 21. This picker wheel is effective to transform the raw fibre stock into small particles or shred-like lamentary bodies herein referred to as iiock. v

The chambered base includes a hollow central portion 28, which is supported by legs 29, in turn secured to a suitable foundation or flooring 30. A motor driven exhaust fan 3| communicates through a duct 32 with a central portion of the chambered base and is effective to create a partial vacuum or high degree of suction within/ the chambered base.

'Ihe central portion 28 of the' chambered base at its upper end is increased in diameter and flared outwardly, as indicated at 33. Surrounding the upper extremity 34 of the fixed flared portion 33, there is an annular flange `35, forming a part of the rotatable pneumatic serving head I5. This element is in the nature of a casting of the sectional shape shown by the dot- `ted lines in Fig, I and more clearlyby the rfull lined showing at the left side of Fig. 5. This casting includes an outer annular flange 36, which is rotatable relatively to the annular flange 31 of the chambered base. This base carries a ring 38 serving as a bearing for the rotatable serving head I5. A circular gear ring 39 secured to rthe annular flange 36 of the serving head is driven by a pinion 40 carried by the armature shaft 4I of a motor 42.

'Ihe rotary head I5 includes an arcuate chambered manifold 43 which embraces approximately 200 degrees of the flock collector I6, as shown ln Fig. 3.

The peripheral surface or rim 44 of the flock collector drum is foraminous and may be conveniently made of wire netting, as shown in Figs. l, 5, 6 and 7. Alternatively, the flock co1- lector drum may be of squirrel-cage form, as' hereinafter described in connection with Figs. 9 to 12.

'I'he flock collector drum is rotatably supported on a spindle 45 (Fig. 2) secured in a boss 46 carried by spider arms 41 radiating from inclined hollow neck or duct 48 extending upwardly from and forming part of the pneumatic serv-v ing head I5. f The top wall 49 of the serving head carries a guide sleeve 50 through which the core to be covered passes. A similar guide sleeve 5I is secured to the lower end of the central portion 28 of the chambered base.

The foraminous rim 44 of the flock collector drum is supported by parallel ring-like portions 52 and 53 which are joined at intervals by cross pieces 54. The supporting hub 55 of the collec- Ytor drum carries an annular flange 56, to which isy riveted or otherwise secured a disc 51, which in turn is riveted to an annular ring 58 secured to the upper ring 52 of the collector drum.

A suitable .ball bearing 59 is provided for the collector drum. The reduced upper extremity of the supporting spindle 45 for the collector drum is screw threaded, as indicated at 60, for the reception of the thumb nutIiI, so as to provide an adjustment for tension exerted by a spring 62, which is interposed between a metal washer 63 and bre friction washers 64, which contact the upper surface of the disc 51 of the collector drum. Any other suitable form of friction drag or tension may be applied, if found necessar or desirable.` f

l'I'he cops I9, which constitute supplies'of the reinforcing strands I8 are rotatably mounted on suitable spindles carried by bracket 65 secured to the top wall 49 of the rotating serving head. 'I'he supporting spindles for the cops may be provided with suitable adjustable tension devices, such as indicated at 66. In Fig. 1, I have shown two cops I9 and two strands I8. It is to be understood, however, that, if desired, more than two reinforcing strands I8 may be employed and in some cases it may be sufficient to use merely one such strand.

As the strands leave the cops I9, they pass through eyes in a suitable guide 61 secured to the bracket 65 and are then trained around the foraminous rim 44 of the rotary flock collector, the arc of contact, for example, as indicated in Fig. 3, being approximately 200 degrees corresponding approximately to the extent to which the manifold 43 embraces the collector. These angular proportions, however, both`in the case of the manifold and the reinforcing strands are given by way of illustration rather than limitation. It is also contemplated, in' some cases, that the strand or strands I8 will be wrapped one or more revolutions around the rim of the rotary collector. But, in any event, the strands will extend from the supply cops to the rotary collector and thence to the advancing conductor so that, as the pneumatic head rotates and carries the collector drum with it in its circular orbit, the pull occasioned by wrapping the reinforcing strandsfl about the core or conductor will be effective to rotate the collector 'drum about the n axis of its supporting spindle.

Thus, in al sense, it may be said that the driving torque or energy for rotating the collector drum is transmitted through the reinforcing strands I8. This is thought to be a broadly novel conception and it has the advantage of simplifying the mechanism by rendering it unnecessary to use complex gearing to synchronize the rotary movement of the collector drum about its axis withl the planetary movement of the drum required to properly wrap the serving strip about the conductor or core to be covered.

As will be readily apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, the suction or pneumatic force exerted by the fan 3| will cause the flock to be drawn from the interior of the chambered base into the manifold 43 and, as the suction creates an air current flowing from the manifold inwardly through the foraminous rim of the collector drum, such flock Will be gathered or collected thereon and superposed .on the reinforcing strands I8. As the curved outer wall 43 of the `manifold is eccentric to the periphery of the collector drum, it will be apparent that as the drum rotates clockwise in Fig. 3 about the axis of its supporting spindle 20, the flock will be compressed as it approaches the restricted throat portion 68 of the manifold. Thus, there will be formed the ilocculent serving strip I1 to. some extent intertwined or interlocked with the reinforcing threads I8.

As the ilocculent serving strip leaves the rethat arc of the foraminous drum opposite the' manifold 43. The baille member 69 is secured by suitable screws 1I to the inclined disc-like wallA 12, which merges into the neck 48 of the pneumatic serving head.

Wiii1e, as above indicated, the' interruption of the suction through the foraminous rim of the flock collector facilitates freeing the serving strip from the collector, it is also noted that, because the reinforcing threads are interposed between the main body of `the flocculent mass and the rim of the .collector drum, as the drum pays off reinforcing threads, such threads in the act of pulling `away from the periphery of the drum will assist in stripping the flocculent strip from the drum.

The rateof speed or longitudinal feed or advance of the conductor or core I3 will be suitably coordinated with the rotation of the pneumatic serving head 35. For example, this may be accomplished by driving the capstan 2| through a belt 13 leading to a pulley 14, carried by a shaft 15 driven by a worm wheel 16 meshing with a Worm 11 carried on a shaft 18 to which is also secured a gear 19 meshing with the motor pinion which drives the pneumatic serving head. The shaft 18 is supp-ortedrin a suitable bearing 80 carried by the same standard 8 I, which supports the drive motor 42. l

In some cases, instead of employing reinforcements in the nature of strands or threads I8 above referred to, I contemplate utilizing in place thereof a strip of net-like textile fabric, such as indicated at 82 in Fig. 10. tape-like netting will becarried on reels suitably supported on a bracket similar to that shown at 85 in Fig. 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 10,l the rim of the collector drum instead of being in the form .of a screen as in Figs. 1v to 8 inclusive, may be what I call a squirrel-cage type, in which case the spaced rings 52El and 53a thereof will be bridged by a multiplicity of `short bars 83 circularly arranged and spaced a short distance from one another.

When the net-like reinforcement is used, it will be apparent that, as the flock is pneumatically precipitated thereon in conjunction -with the operation of the collector drum, the

flocculent particles will be intermeshed to a certain extent with the net-like tape 82, so as to provide the flocculent serving strip of the character indicated in Fig. 11.

Regardless of whether the flocculent vserving strip has a net-like reinforcement, as in Fig. 11, or has the strand-like reinforcements I8, as in Fig. 5, it will be apparent that both the reinforcement and the flocculent serving material are simultaneously applied to the core or conductor and that the reinforcement itself performs the important function of turning the flock collector on its axis. It will also be apparent that, regardless of whether the mesh or strand-like reinforcement is utilized, the flocculent strip may be said to be continuously formed just immediately prior to the time of' its application toi the wire or core.

Although, it is preferable to effect the rotary movement off the flock collector I6 by the action of winding reinforcements around the advancing core, it is to be understood that it is within my invention to provide suitable gearing, for rotating said flock collector.

VWhile I "have described quite specifically certain steps in the method of covering a wire or core lwith a flocculent serving and have shown the preferred combination of instrumentalities for carrying out the method, `it is to be understood that I do -not wish to be limited to the precise steps or arrangements described or shown, as the invention disclosed in detail is thought to be Supplies of such broadly new and it is intended that the appended claims are to be broadly construed.

What I claim is:

1. The method of covering a core which comprises disintegrating stock to form flock, pneumatically compressing the flock into a strip-like mass while assembling a reinforcement therewith and wrapping such strip and reinforcement simultaneously around a longitudinally advancing core.

2. The method of covering a core which comprises disintegrating stock to form flock, transforming the flock while in motion to a flocculent strip-like mass under the influence of air pressure, assembling a reinforcement therewith and wrapping the strip and reinforcement simultaneously around a longitudinally advancing core.

3. The method of covering a core which comprises disintegrating fibrous stock to form flock,

transforming such flock into a rotating arcuate n flocculent strip-like mass by the application of pneumatic pressure to the mass, while assembling a reinforcement therewith, releasing the pneumatic pressure and wrapping the strip and the reinforcement simultaneously around a longitudinally advancing core.

4. The method of covering a core whichcomprises disintegrating fibrous stock to form flock, pneumatically compressing such flock against a rotating foraminous surface over which a reinforcement is trained, releasing the flock from the influence of the pneumatic pressure to free it from said surface and wrapping the resulting assembled flock and reinforcement around a longitudinally advancing conductor.

5. The method of covering a core Which comprises disintegrating stock to form flock, directing such flock to the foraminous periphery of a rotating drum by creating a suction effective to press the flock against said surface of the drum, training a reinforcement about they drum, releasing the suction influence at a predetermined point relatively to the periphery of the drum so as to free the thus formed strip-like mass of flock and wrapping said strip-like mass 'and said reinforcement around a -longitudinally advancing core.

6. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing a core longitudinally, a rotating chambered serving head, a flock collector rotatably mounted thereon, pneumatic means for wafting the flock through the chambered head and impingingit on the periphery of 'the collector and means automatically rotating a foraminous periphery, pneumatic means effective to Waft the flock through the chambered head and precipitate it on said foraminous periphery, a manifold'coacting with said collector drum, fixed baille means coacting with the drum effective to release the pneumatic influence upon the precipitated flock at a predetermined point, means carried by the serving head for supporting a supply of 'flock reinforcement and means for guiding said reinforcement to the foraminous surface of said collector drum.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a lrotating serving head, means for advancing a core to be covered axially thereof, a hollow collector drum mounted to rotate on an from said rotary head through the foraminous,

periphery of said collector drum so as to superpose the flock on the reinforcing material trained about the drum and means effective to interrupt the effect of the air flow through said drum to facilitate freeing the'precipitated ock from the surface of the drum.

9. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing a core longitudinally,

a rotating chambered serving head, a ilock collector drum` rotatably mounted thereon having a foraminous periphery, pneumatic means eilective to waft the flock through the chambered head and precipitate it on said foraminous periphery, a manifold coacting with said collector drum, ilxed baille means coacting with the drum effective to release the pneumatic linfluence upon the precipitated ilock at a predetermined pointf a supply of reinforcement material carried by the serving head and trained around the flock collector drum.

10. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing a core longitudinally, a rotating' chambered serving head, a flock collector drum rotatably mounted thereon and having a foraminous periphery, means eiective to pneumatically direct the ilock through theinterior of the chambered head and to precipitate it on the periphery of the collector drum, a supply of flock reinforcing material carried by the serving head and engaging said collector drum and extending to said core and effective to'rotate the collector drum as it travels in its planetary orbit about the core.

11. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing a core longitudinally, a rotating chambered serving head, a flock collector drum rotatably mounted thereon and )having a foraminous periphery, means effective to pneumatically direct the ilock through the interior of the chambered head and to precipitate it on the periphery of the collector drum, a cop of reinforcing strand rotatably supported on said serving head, a strand from said cop being trained about a portion of said collector and extending to said core and effective to rotate the collector drum about its axis as it travels in its planetary orbit about the core.

12. A machine of the character described comprising a fixed chambered base, means supplying fibrous stock thereto, means within the base for dislntegrating such stock so as to form flock therefrom, a chambered serving head communieating with said chambered base, means for rotating the head, means for advancing a core substantially along the axis of rotation of the serving head, a hollow collector drum .mounted with freedom for rotation on the serving head and having a foraminous peripheral surface, Aa manifold in communication with said chambered base and serving head and embracing an arcuate portion of the collector drum, a fan eiective to direct the ilock through the chambered base and chambered manifold and precipitate it upon the foraminous surface of the collector drum, and

baille means coacting with the collector drum and- -eifective to assist in releasing the precipitated flock from the surface thereof.

13. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing a core longitudinally, a rotary serving head, a hollow flock collector rotatably mounted thereon, pneumatic means for lmpinging ilock on the periphery of the collector and means automatically rotating the collector relatively to the serving head.

14. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing a core longitudinally, a. rotary serving head, a hollow flock collector rotatably mounted thereon, pneumatic means for impinging flock on the periphery of the collector and means automatically rotating the collector relatively to theserving head, a manifold coacting with the flock collector and fixed baille means effective to release the pneumatic influence at a predetermined point upon the flock precipitated on the periphery of said flock collector.

PAUL M; ROGERS.- 

